Buyers inspect horses at New York Thoroughbred Breeders' sale in Saratoga.
The inaugural New York Breeders' Sale Company's fall mixed sale broke new ground for Empire State breeders, owners, and consignors at the Sept. 29 close of its two-day run at Saratoga Race Course. The sale grossed $1,234,100 with 186 hips selling for an average of $6,361. The median was $2,600.Forty-two percent (190) of the total 448 horses offered failed to find new homes, while 50 hips (11%) were scratched from the sale. "I feel very good about this," said Chip Landry, general manager and director of sales at New York Breeders' Sales Company. "Obviously, you would like to have had a lower number of RNAs but that is a learning experience for the sellers and for the buyers as well. There was a market here if you had the right horse."The sale featured real-time online bidding with about 14 horses selling via the Internet.Landry said the shareholders and board of directors would meet in the upcoming weeks to evaluate the sale and begin planning for next year. "Some shareholders have come to me and said a few things and we passed out a survey sheet today. There are some things that we need to work on, but overall I am very pleased," he said.Wednesday's broodmare portion of the sale grossed $650,100, with 89 horses averaging $7,304. The median was $3,500. Twenty-eight horses (12%) were scratched from the sale, with 94 (12%) of the 225 available hips failing to meet the reserve price.Consignor Thomas Gallo called the sale a success. "The broodmares sold very strong, but of course you have to adjust your expectations to this sale," said Gallo, who sold 26 of 29 consigned hips. "There were some nice mares in the sale and with my horses I had realistic expectations and it turned out pretty well."Two hips brought a session-high price of $39,000. The first, Lucretia McEvil (by Louis Quatorze) was purchased by Barbara Sullivan from the consignment of BlueChip Stock, agent.The 3-year-old unraced bay mare out of the D'Accord mare Evil Mind, who was carrying a foal by Lido Palace on a March 31 cover, is from the family of stakes winners Crebilly and Ballindaggin. The co-session topper, Something Sacred (by Seattle Slew) was purchased by H. Bud Wolf from the consignment of Sugar Maple Farm, agent for Windmill Manor Farm.The Australian-bred mare has a yearling Pikepass colt and produced a Thunderello filly this year. She is in foal to Black Minnaloushe on a May 9 cover. Something Sacred is from the family of stakes winner C'Mon Lets Dance and stakes winner and grade II stakes winner and producer Terlingua, who produced grade I stakes winner and leading sire Storm Cat and grade II winner and stakes producer Chapel of Dreams.
